The political undertones of an India vs Pakistan cricket match are never far away, and the latest clash in the Asia Cup has once again become a flashpoint. Pakistan’s cricket board (PCB) has formally demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. The complaint came after India’s players and captain refused to engage in the traditional post-match handshake, an act Pakistan described as a lack of sportsmanship.
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The incident followed India’s seven-wicket victory in the Group A encounter, the first meeting between the two nations since a brief four-day military conflict earlier this year. The game itself, staged at a neutral venue under the supervision of Zimbabwean referee Pycroft, was played without on-field controversy. However, it ended dramatically off the field as India walked off without the customary gesture of goodwill.
The Incident: No Handshakes After Asia Cup Clash
At the toss, there was already a sign of unease as the two captains refrained from shaking hands. Matters escalated after the match concluded. As Pakistan’s players walked toward their rivals to acknowledge the contest, India’s squad instead retreated straight into the dressing room.
India vs Pakistan: Head coach Mike Hesson, who took over Pakistan’s role earlier this year, voiced his disappointment at the snub. Head coach said we were prepared to shake hands once the game ended. We obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that, Hesson told reporters.
We approached to shake hands, but they had already left for the changing room. It was a disappointing way for the match to conclude. Hesson also revealed that Pakistan’s captain, Salman Agha, who did not attend the official post-match presentation, skipped it as a follow-on effect of India’s refusal.
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India vs Pakistan: Victory Dedicated to Armed Forces
For India, the decision not to shake hands was deliberate. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said during the presentation that the victory was dedicated to the Indian armed forces. He also expressed solidarity with victims of the April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which sparked the recent military standoff.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav took a call on not shaking hands. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply, Suryakumar told the post-match press conference. His comments suggested that the symbolic gesture of avoidance was tied not to cricket. Instead, it reflected the broader political and military tensions that continue to affect relations between the two countries.
Sell Asia Cup: PCB’s Protest Calling Out Lack of Sportsmanship
The Pakistan Cricket Board wasted no time in lodging a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC). PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the country’s Interior Minister and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), issued a strongly worded statement. In it, he criticised both the Indian team and match referee Andy Pycroft.
Naqvi described India’s conduct as a blatant lack of sportsmanship and accused Pycroft of failing in his duties to uphold the spirit of the game. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the match referee from the Asia Cup, Naqvi posted on X (formerly Twitter). The referee allowed a code of conduct violation to pass without consequence. This undermines the credibility of the tournament.
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The ICC has not yet issued a response to the complaint, though insiders suggest that an official review may be undertaken given the seriousness of the allegations.
The Larger Context: India-Pakistan Relations in Cricket
Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan has been frozen since 2013 due to political tensions. The two sides only meet in multi-nation tournaments such as the ICC World Cup, T20 World Cup, and the Asia Cup. Even this latest fixture was clouded by controversy before the first ball was bowled. Several voices in India had called for the team to boycott the match entirely, citing the April attack and subsequent clashes.
India vs Pakistan: Nonetheless, cricketing authorities pushed ahead, emphasising the importance of maintaining the ACC’s flagship event. Despite these assurances, the refusal to shake hands has reignited debate about whether cricket can truly remain separate from politics. The issue becomes even more complex when it involves two of the world’s most politically sensitive rivals.
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Fallout and Potential Consequences for the Asia Cup 2025
The PCB’s demand for Andy Pycroft’s removal has added another layer of intrigue to the Asia Cup, which is already one of the most-watched cricket tournaments in the world. Match referees are expected to enforce not only the technical rules of the game but also the spirit of cricket. Pakistan’s claim that Pycroft failed in this duty could set a precedent if the ICC decides to act.
India vs Pakistan: India, meanwhile, appears firm in its stance. The team’s dedication of the victory to its armed forces and the clear political messaging suggest that the refusal to shake hands was not spontaneous but a calculated act. Whether or not the ICC intervenes, this gesture will likely cast a long shadow over the rest of the tournament.
Importantly, the format of the Asia Cup means the two sides are likely to meet again, potentially twice more, including in the September 28 final if both progress. That raises questions about how future encounters will be handled. Will the ICC step in to mandate handshakes? Or will the rivalry continue to spill over into symbolic acts of defiance?
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